Birchbark
/ˈbɜːrtʃ.bɑːrk/noun
The outer protective bark of a birch tree, used historically for writing, containers, roofing, and craftwork.
Did you know?Birchbark was used across Eurasia as a writing surface, including in medieval Slavic birchbark letters, because its thin layers could be peeled and inscribed like a natural scroll.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰerHǵ-
“to shine, be bright, white”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*berkō
“birch tree”
Old English
English
beorc
“birch tree”
Old English
English
beorċ-bearu
“birch bark / birch-tree bark”
Middle English
English
birche bark
“the bark of a birch tree”
Modern English
English
birchbark
“the bark of a birch tree”